I've attempted to crewate a synth of a ice-cream shaped eraser, which came out with 0% synthy. This I assume is because the eraser was black, and although the photos were close-up shots, and did the object was very matt(low reflectivity), there was not nearly enough for Photosynth to use as reference points. The outcome would have to be that the object was much too simple and simply wasn't suitable for the process.
Note: use objects with varying colours
After this development I attempted the Library Lawn Clock, which resulted in 100% synthy, yet to my surprise synthed not the clock, but the bright green grass on the lawn, as seen here. A rather strange result, but what i can discern from this result is that when taking photos try to avoid objects with very vibrant and textured backgrounds. Or you can photoshop them out. Either way should work fine. The reason I never attempted to photoshop this out was because not only was there bright green grass yet, there was a large brick textured wall behind the clock. Time simply wasn't on my side. But it's still an option.
Note: Avoid vibrant and more appealing backgrounds, or be ready to edit the peanuts out of your photos
I then tried the Mechanical Engineering Building(only the face seen from the main walkway) which turned out quite well actually. The synth was only 87% or so, but at least Photosynth stitched them together properly. I think this worked because the background of the images wasn't as vibrant or distinctive as the grass in the library lawn, and there was some textural variation on the building which helped to decipher what was what. The paved ground around it was also slightly washed out from the light. I of course only have one face for the moment, yet it was quite a development from the last two failures. As bad as they were I still seemed to learn what not to do next time.
Note: Washed out backgrounds work well
Having done a building finally, I decided that it would be an interesting idea to splice an actual building and a balsa wood model of a building. I thought that maybe the textured wood might help as it was not very reflective, and it had a lot of distinct features for Photosynth to tag onto. The outcome, however, was a 0% synthy. This I think was due to the fact that the artificial lighting of a bedroom washed out the texture of the wood, instead of the surrounding material. An option, which is yet to be attempted is to lower the light levels of the images in order to amplify the texture in the balsa wood. As the due date ahs been extended this might still be attempted, as before time would not allow for such a terrible result. I need 100% synthy.
Note: Lower light levels to enhance texture variation
The last attempt at finding 100% synthy I decided to use one of the last remaining matt objects in my apartment; a christmas hat.
I didn't think it would work originally, however I saw some really promising results in class where other students had used teddy bears, and other felt/furry type objects, so I assumed there was something about this texture that seemed to work regardless of it's reflectivity. Alas, all it mounted up to was a lowsy 27% synthy. I think the difference between the christmas hat and the teddy bear was the colour variation. The christmas hat was a consistent red and green on it's respective parts, yet the teddy bear had shades of brown, and other distinct features that defined the head, arms body and legs. I decided to try sticking board pins into the hat as a last reach attempt, yet this only decreased the synthy to 21%.
Initial attempt at the christmas hat
Second attempt with pins in the hat
I think this object was however just too simple, and Photosynth struggled to find it's bearing. Another option which might be a possibility is to attach points with letters on, as another student did in class. This might make a simple object easier to synth.
Note: avoid simple objects
Observation Summary
- use objects with varying colours
- Avoid vibrant and more appealing backgrounds, or be ready to edit the peanuts out of your photos
- Washed out backgrounds work well
- Lower light levels to enhance texture variation
- avoid simple objects
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